Comments from the Executive Director
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Board of Directors of the West Central Florida PBA has chosen to elect me unanimously to the position of Executive Director. The election occurred at the February Charter Board Meeting and followed several changes in the organization.
I wish to thank each the Board and the General membership for having the trust and confidence in my performance to assign the duties of such an office.
Many of you already know of my participation in the organization for over three decades and for the last seven years I have been an advocate for Officers and Deputies serving as both the Senior Vice President and Labor Relations Director. I have successfully negotiated contracts for all of the agencies that we represent over that period of time including landmark pension enhancements for Bartow, Lakeland and Tampa.
There have been several changes in the organization of late that will change the way we do business in the future; however, I have an optimistic view of the future and the service we provide our membership.
During the last year, some of the changes that have occurred have been documented over the internet from one view point or another, many versions are not exactly correct and I will try to briefly describe these changes in language all of us can understand.
The Tampa Police Chapter decided to separate from the Charter, this occurred when the newly elected Chapter executive board demanded a change in the Charter Constitution and By-Laws to allow the new TPD Chapter President to become the Charter President. When the other twelve seated Charter Board Members decided that experience counted and voted not to do so, TPD chose to separate. In so doing they have isolated themselves within their agency. The reorganization and separation has limited their political endorsements, power and influence to only the City Council and the Mayoral races and limits the Chapters growth to only that of the Tampa Police Department.
This move in my opinion was not in the best interest of Tampa Police Officers as it has always been my philosophy that there is strength in numbers both in membership and the agencies we represent. I have therefore recommended to the Charter Board of Directors that the now vacant four seats be filled by representatives of the remaining agencies that used to comprise the Tampa Chapter. These seats will be occupied by the representatives of the Tampa Airport Police, University of South Florida Police, New Port Richey Police and Port Richey Police Departments.
The contract negotiations between the Hillsborough County Sheriff and Hillsborough Deputies in Law Enforcement and Detention reached impasse last year over several issues and resulted in the Sheriff being able to petition the Public Employees Relations Commission for a decertification vote for Law Enforcement Corporals and Deputies.
It was brought to my attention by many Hillsborough members that members of the Tampa Chapter were assisting the Sheriff in supporting the Hillsborough decertification vote. This information was confirmed by Sheriff Gee in our meeting on March 19th of this year.
The decertification vote resulted in the decertification of the PBA as the bargaining unit for HCSO Law Enforcement and the negation of their contract. This was a great personal disappointment, for acting as the Lead Negotiator of that Contract team we were able to obtain the first comprehensive Step Plan for Deputies and the abolishment of the topped out step for deputies. The first contract was a learning process for all and was not impacted by the current and severe tax reform movement emanating from our representatives in Tallahassee. In point of fact the time period of the Contracts were made in agreement with the Sheriff to allow the PBA and your representatives to participate in the budgetary process. Though not perfect, it was a great step in the right direction.
It is also necessary for all to know that the Step Pay Plan Sheriff Gee criticizes in his March 14th memo is his Staff’s own work product. The PBA accepted this form after much debate in the interest of the majority and to establish a minimum step plan and with the intent to bargain for adjustment the next contract. This fact was presented at informational and ratification meetings on multiple occasions. Secondly, there was no Detention Sergeants Contract for him to correct. Deficiencies that exist are the product of the Sheriffs system which was why most Deputies believed that Collective Bargaining was necessary to begin with. The decertification once again causes the Members of the Sheriff’s Department to rely on the generosity and benevolence of the Sheriff and his Staff.
Since the vote, the Sheriff has made many promises to his Deputies as incentive for voting the PBA out and agrees that he will have to find new and creative funding for the retroactive raises and other benefits he has promised his deputies. I hope for the benefit of the Deputies that he keeps his promises; however, he has previously made statements about the impact of the Tax reductions and those to come which cause me to have serious doubts as to his ability to find the extra monies or to change the Civil Service classifications for Plain Clothes Deputies to Detectives within a reasonable time frame, if at all.
The PBA believes in job security for its members both financially and through lawful due process, something that appeared lacking in the latest incident involving the jail and Detention members. All of our members should take note that even the most heinous criminals are given the benefit of the doubt and afforded due process. The Sheriff’s leadership responding to video clips without thorough investigation and passing immediate public judgment is not due process regardless how egregious the act may have appeared to be.
All of Law Enforcement knows how video is edited and portrayed to accomplish the agenda of the media, perhaps examination of the unedited tape may have lent information as to the location and activities of all persons caught up in the rush to judgment.
Many Deputies have called me personally to relate the threats and coercion they have been subjected too to cause the rejection of the PBA. These acts and statements are improper but, without subjecting our members to the full wrath of the agency, are extremely difficult to pursue. I urge all Hillsborough Deputies to maintain membership for the purposes of Legal Representation and support in Internal Affairs investigations at the Sheriff’s Office. Further, I remind you that your membership is voluntary, lawful and one of the Rights guaranteed you in the State of Florida.
Finally the Charter Board has decided to reduce the dues for members not represented by a current contract and bargaining unit. This change will be reflected in your upcoming statements.
In closing I would like to thank the membership of the West Central Florida PBA for your confidence and Brotherhood that I have enjoyed for over thirty one years.
Strength, Honor, Country and Service,
Jim Diamond III
Executive Director WCFPBA
